Black Sabbath Will Come To America

Black Sabbath will eventually perform in America, despite their recent European tour being rebrandedOzzy + Friends.
Sharon Osbourne revealed the US-friendly news to VH1 (via Blabbermouth):
"They're gonna be doing one show in America this summer but I can't say yet because we can't announce it, the promoters have to, but they are doing one show in August here together," she said.
But if the show uses the proper Black Sabbath title, does that mean drummer Bill Ward has signed back on?
"We don't know yet, we really don't know. It's up to Bill," she said. "The door is open for him to join us, so it's up to him."
In January, Ward revealed that he was unhappy with his contract and wouldn't sign until he was offered a deal that respected his role as an original Sabbath member. Negotiations between their lawyers continue.
Meanwhile, the remaining members are working on their new album in the UK while guitarist Tony Iommi receives cancer treatment.
"It's going good," Sharon said of the recording. "They're doing really well in the studio. Gosh, they must've written 15 new songs already and it's going great."
The full Black Sabbath reunion may have proven too good to be true, but fans will be in for quite a show when Slash and Zack Wylde joins Ozzy + Friends at festival dates across Europe.

In January, Ward revealed that he was unhappy with his contract and wouldn't sign until he was offered a deal that respected his role as an original Sabbath member. Negotiations between their lawyers continue.

contract? what? its music man, just get onstage and f*ckin' jam
whats all this lawyer/deal/contract nonsense?

metallica-#1 wrote:
In January, Ward revealed that he was unhappy with his contract and wouldn't sign until he was offered a deal that respected his role as an original Sabbath member. Negotiations between their lawyers continue.
contract? what? its music man, just get onstage and f*ckin' jam
whats all this lawyer/deal/contract nonsense?

It's not that easy really, Bill has experienced this before. We have no idea what's really going on behind the scenes. I think he did the right choice, he deserves that kind of respect.

Jesus_Dean wrote:
Man, I was so happy to hear about the reunion in November, but this....THIS!...has turned into a train wreck.

Pretty sure they're changing the tour to Ozzy and Friends because of Iommi's health and not because of Ward. Would everyone like to see Tony exhaust himself after treatment? I'd be happier to see a Sabbath show with a perfectly healthy Tony. Best wishes to him.

I think the article is confused by the Ozzy and Friends thing. My understanding was that the difference between Ozzy and Friends and Black Sabbath was Tony Iommi's presence. They are saying that Iommi will play that one show, not that all of the original lineup will. At least that's the way I understand all of this.

I want to know what this contract is and why Bill is unhappy with it. You'd think the prospect of all the joy you'd bring to other people by reuniting the biggest heavy metal band ever would be enough for anyone to do it, even without a completely generous contract, but his heart doesn't really seem like it's in it.

jetfuel495 wrote:
I want to know what this contract is and why Bill is unhappy with it. You'd think the prospect of all the joy you'd bring to other people by reuniting the biggest heavy metal band ever would be enough for anyone to do it, even without a completely generous contract, but his heart doesn't really seem like it's in it.

Drummers need to learn their place.
That was tasteless and I apologise.

nickzippelli wrote:
So they can call it Black Sabbath when it's Tony Martin singing and Tony Iommi is the only original member, but when it's Ozzy, Geezer, Tony, and [insert drummer here] its not black sabbath?

Tony Iommi insists that the post "Mob Rules" line-up was going to be his solo project, yet all the guys he recruited said that he recruited them for "Black Sabbath". If Tony Iommi is correct, then "Born Again" through "TYR", "Cross Purposes" and "Forbidden" aren't true Sabbath albums, which they aren't (they sound nothing like Sabbath). If they are right and he's wrong, then Tony is guilty of cheapening the name of Black Sabbath by making it all about himself, which Ozzy and Geezer are NOT doing, thank goodness.
Black Sabbath is, and always will be, Bill Ward, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi. Dio and Vinny make Heaven and Hell, the rest is Iommi. end of story

nickzippelli wrote:
So they can call it Black Sabbath when it's Tony Martin singing and Tony Iommi is the only original member, but when it's Ozzy, Geezer, Tony, and [insert drummer here] its not black sabbath?

jetfuel495 wrote:
I want to know what this contract is and why Bill is unhappy with it. You'd think the prospect of all the joy you'd bring to other people by reuniting the biggest heavy metal band ever would be enough for anyone to do it, even without a completely generous contract, but his heart doesn't really seem like it's in it.

When you're 68, a former member of the biggest metal band in history and getting disrespected, you'll understand. He may have financial problems he's worrying about. He may just not be happy that Ozzy is getting twice as much money as him regardless of how much money that is. Or any number of things that I find completely understandable and reasonable.

ZWH wrote:
metallica-#1 wrote:
In January, Ward revealed that he was unhappy with his contract and wouldn't sign until he was offered a deal that respected his role as an original Sabbath member. Negotiations between their lawyers continue.
contract? what? its music man, just get onstage and f*ckin' jam
whats all this lawyer/deal/contract nonsense?
It's not that easy really, Bill has experienced this before. We have no idea what's really going on behind the scenes. I think he did the right choice, he deserves that kind of respect.
Jesus_Dean wrote:
Man, I was so happy to hear about the reunion in November, but this....THIS!...has turned into a train wreck.
Agree with this though.

I think whatever is going it is legit. Ward wouldn't be so selfish. You always heard stories of Ozzy not being a team member or Iommi being at odds with Ozzy or Geezer but not Ward.

No idea why I got voted down... everyone wanted a Sabbath reunion and we're getting "Ozzy + friends", this isn't ****ing sesame street. They may play the same tunes but something about this reeks, don't you think?

deathofagod wrote:
No idea why I got voted down... everyone wanted a Sabbath reunion and we're getting "Ozzy + friends", this isn't ****ing sesame street. They may play the same tunes but something about this reeks, don't you think?

blackbird51 wrote:
Rob E wrote:
I suppose that means it'll be Metallica's Orion+ festival.
that's june 23rd and 24th and having Metallica headline over Sabbath is an insult to metal in general.

Yeah for sure Sabbath founded this whole thing and they are legends...but you cant't say that Metallica isn't bigger now ...if sabbath plays long and after Metallica plays long i think it's ok... but sabbath won't play Orion either...it's not in august...

Ozzy and friends ?!?!?!?!!?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!!! what a totally awesome yet ultimately pathetic name.
btw, I don't know why everyone thinks Bill wont play because of money. There could be a 101 other clauses in there that made him think twice. All it would take is a paragraph saying he wasn't allowed to talk to the press .....
Don't assume it's all about money,

i mean it`s so cool, seing all those great musicians together in serbia. i`m really sorry `cause i`m not going to se black sabbath but for this many so many acts together... it`s just too good to be true i mean slash, zakk, gezzer, ozzy, the cult, paradise lost... there`s something for everyone...

Nitnatsnok wrote:
deathofagod wrote:
No idea why I got voted down... everyone wanted a Sabbath reunion and we're getting "Ozzy + friends", this isn't ****ing sesame street. They may play the same tunes but something about this reeks, don't you think?
What are you doin on this site? Iommi is "+friends"???

Hmmm... I'm on this site because I play instruments and wish to look at tabs and learn songs, was the main draw of this site not obvious to you? Also, Changing Black Sabbath to "Ozzy + friends" is like changing Metallica to "Lars + friends" or the Beatles to "Lennon (or McCartney) + friends". It's like promoting the name of the most widespread media icon of a group and pushing the rest of the members into the background, and it stinks.